Tenant got a puppy w/o approval, gives me BS service animal reg.

[Rebecca Cohen]

I had a tenant move in in December and sign a lease knowing i don't allow pets. At the end of the month she buys a puppy. I tell her I don't allow pets on that property. She sends me a BS service animal registration. I send her the HUD letter form 7399 and she has her Dr. fill it out and say she has mental health issues. Do I have a way to get rid of the puppy in my upscale Victorian home?

[Mike Cumbie]

Hi @Rebecca Cohen

I wouldn't fight this one. Just like if she didn't have a wheelchair during lease signing and now does. I would treat it like what it is, a disability requiring accommodation.  That does not mean she cannot be charged for any and all damage as it occurs on the property. If you do an inspection and find up a chewed up molding, schedule a repair and she pays for it (not at the end during final walk out, but scheduled inspections). If the carpet is bad and needs to be replaced replace it and she pays for it. The excuse of "It's just going to happen again" is not acceptable. Because "yes and you will pay for it again". However hopefully they take good care of their medical implement and there are no issues. Which is what this was designed for anyway.

However once her doctor signed, I would consider it a medical device.

Good Luck!